Spool holder



Feb. 2.9, 1944. P. MERCER 2,342,954

sPooL HOLDER f Filed July 21, 1941 2 sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 29,1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPOOL HOLDER Paul Mercer, Chicago, Ill.

Application July 21, 1941, Serial No. 403,329

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a spool holder and more particularly to aholder for releasably and rotatably supporting a plurality of spindlescarrying spools of yarn or the like.

An object of the invention is to provide acompact, simple and convenientstructure for releasably and rotatably supporting spools of yarn and thelike and for guiding the strands of yarn delivered from the spools.Another object is to provide in a spool holder, guide means formaintaining iny proper alignment the threads and strands of yarn or thelike which are removed from the spools carried by the holder. Stillanother object is to provide a portable spool holding structure equippedwith a -carrying handle and with guide means associated with the handle.Yet another object is to provide a structure for rotatably andreleasably supporting spools of yarn and the likein spaced horizontalrelationship, the structure being equipped with a guide passage throughwhich the yarn passes in the course of its `removal v.from the spools.

Another object of the invention 'is to provide a spool holder in Which aplurality of spools are rotatably supported and each of ythe spools isfreely and independently rotatable and removable from the structure. The4spools are supported in spaced horizontal relation `When the 'deviceisin use. This permits the material to lloe freely unwound from thevarious lspools while at the same time maintaining the spools inposition in the device. By arranging the carrying handle for theportable holder to act as a guide means, the ma* terial passes from the`spools in proper alignment and tangling of vthe material is prevented.At the same time, the material is prevented from running ofi the ends ofthe spools.

In the art of crocheting and the like it is desirable to have a minimum`of broken or cut strands of material. The spool holder of the presentinvention includes a guide passage which is equipped with a longitudinalopening or slot extending along the same, the slot permitting lateralremoval of Ythe yarn from the passage Without cutting the same ordetaching the ends from the fabric and spool to which they are secured.The device is particularly designed for use in the home and by reason ofthe arrangement of the various spools in spaced Ahorizontal relation, aplurality of spools of carpet Warp or crocheting yarn or the like may-be supported in the holder and used independently and simultaneously.

Other features and vadvantages of the invention will lappear in thespeciiicat-ion and drawings, nwhichy Figure 1 is a perspective view of aspool yholder `embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of thedevice; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line '3 3of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional -vievv taken along theline 'lI--d of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a perspective view -of a modificationof the invention; Fig. 6 is a plan View of the modification; Fig. 7 is atransverse sectional lview taken along the line 'I -l of Fig. 6; 'andFig. 8 is a side elevational viev/ partly in section of themodiiication.

In the embodiment ofthe invention described herein and referringparticularly to Figs. 1 to 4, a frame A includes a .base I0 and a pairof spaced parallel upwardly extending spindle braces or vWalls II andI2. The Walls II and i2 are vdisposed in opposed relation with the innerside of each of the Walls being equipped with a pair of recesses I3, i4,-I5 and I6 which extend downwardly from the top of the wall for adistance equal to approximately one-third of the height of the Wall. Therecesses I3, I4, 'I5 and I6 are preferably rectangular in cross sectionand communicate with the top and inner side of each Wall.

To the Wall I2 are attached a pair of spaced parallel Walls or spindlebraces II and I3 which are arranged in transverse relation with the WallI2 and extend right angularly therefrom. The vvalls Il and I8 areprovided with recesses I9 and 20 similar in structure to the recessesI3, I4, I5 and I6. Another pair of spaced parallel Walls 2| and 22 areattached to the outer side of the vwall II yand extend right-angularlytherefrom, The Walls 2l and 22 are also equipped with re- -cesses 23and24.

A pair of spindles 25 and 2G equipped with spindle pins 2'I and 28respectively on the ends thereof are rotatably and releasably receivedwithin the recesses in the Walls II and I2, the pins 2l being receivedin the recesses i3 and. l5 andthe pins E3 being received in the recessesI4 and I6. The bottom of each of the recesses serves as a bearingsurface for rotatably supporting the pins of the spindles.

A spindle 29 provided with spindle pins 30 is releasably and rotatablyreceived between the Walls 2| and 22 With the pins 30 arranged in therecesses 23 and 24. Similarly, la spindle 3| is supported by the wallsII and I8 with the spindle 'pins 32 of the spindle 3l being journalledin the `recesses I9 and 20.

The Walls II and I2 are equipped on the central upper surface vthereofwith bosses or raised portions 33 and A34 which extend .upvvardlyzfrom:the surface ofthe walL The .bosses 33 and 34 are provided withhorizontal passages 35 and 36 which extend through the same. Along thepassages are longitudinal slots 31 and 38 which extend along the entirelength of the passage, the slots preferably being of lesser width thanthe Passages.

On the bosses 33 and 34 is mounted a carrying handle 39 which extendsacross between the Walls I l and l2 and is arranged substantially abovethe same. The handle may be secured to the bosses 33 and 34 or to theWalls Il and I2 by any suitable means. For example, as shown, a pair ofscrews 40 and 4| may extend downwardly through the handle into thebosses 33 and 34 respectively.

The handle 39 is provided with a vertical passage,

42 in the central portion thereof and with a slot 43 extendinglongitudinally along the length of the passage, the slot preferablybeing of a lesser width than the passage.

The spindles are adapted to receive spools of yarn or carpet warp or thelike and are placed in the frame with the spools mounted thereon. Thespindles may be placed in the frame by mere.- ly inserting the spindlepins in the opposed recesses in the walls and lowering them until thepins engage the bottoms of the recesses. The bottom of each of therecesses then acts as a bearing surface for rotatably supporting thespindle pins. The spindles may be withdrawn from the holder by liftingthem upwardly out of the recesses.

The yarn from the spools on the spindles 25 and 26 is passed thro-ughthe opening or passage 42 which serves as a guide therefor. The strandor thread of yarn or warp may be inserted in the passage laterallythrough the slot 43 and may be similarly withdrawn. By reason of thisguide passage construction, it is possible to introduce the yarn intothe passage and to remove it therefrom without releasing the ends of theyarn or cutting the strands.

The yarn of the spools which are mounted on the spindles 29 and 3l isarranged in the guide passages 35 and 36 respectively. The yarn may beinserted in the passages and withdrawn therefrom by means of the slots31 and 33. The sides of the bosses opposite the slots 31 and 38 are thefront of the spool holder and the strands of yarn should be withdrawn inthis direction. In this way any danger of the strands of yarn beingaccidentally removed from the guide passages 35 and 36 is avoided.

Similarly the side of the carrying handle 39 opposite the slot 43extends towards the front of the holder and the strands of yarn whichpass through the passage 42 in the handle should be withdrawn towardsthe front of the spool holder in order to prevent the accidental removalof the strands from the guide passage.

The strands of yarn from the spindle 29 and 3l thus move through theguide passages 35 and 36 respectively and then on towards the front ofthe spool holder. The strands of yarn from the spindles 25 and 25 movefrom the guide passage 42 in the carrying handle 39 and then on towardsthe front of the spool holder. All of the strands therefore pass throughtheir respective passages and are delivered from the front of the spoolholder.

With this guide passage construction the yarn is maintained in properalignment .at all times and is withdrawn through passages which aredisposed adjacent the central portion of the spools. The guide passagesserve to prevent the tangling of the yarn and also prevent the yarn fromrunning off the ends of thespools. At the same time, the guide passagesaid in providing a substantially uniform tension on the yarn whichpasses therethrough.

In the modication of the invention shown in Figs. 5 to 8, the holder isequipped with a base ,44 which supports a pair of spaced parallelupwardly extending walls 45 and 46. The walls 45 and 46 are providedwith recesses 41, 48, 49 and 50 which correspond to the recesses shownin the main embodiment of the invention. Similarly, spindles 5l and 52are received within the recesses.

To the outer side of the wall 46 is secured a pair of spaced parallelribs 53 and 54 which if desired, may as shown, be integral with the wall46. The wall 45 is provided with similar supporting ribs 55 and 56. Ifdesired, the walls 53 and 54 may be equipped with recesses 51 and 58which provide compartments for receiving needles or the like. Thecarrying handle 59 may be similar in construction to the handle 39 ofthe preferred embodiment and may be mounted on the walls 45 and 46.

The upper central portion of the handle is provided with a verticalpassage 64 and with an adjacent slot 65 extending longitudinally alongthe same.

The use of the modified holder shown in Figs.

5 to 8 corresponds to that of the preferred embodiment shown in Figs. lto 4. The spindles 5l and 52 may be inserted in the spools of yarn orthe like and the spindles then inserted in the recesses 41, 48, 49 and50 in the walls 45 and 46.

The lower portion of each recess serves as a bearing surface forrotatably supporting the spindle. The yarn strands pass from the spoolson the spindles 5I and 52 through the passage 54 in the carrying handle59. The passage 54 serves to guide the strands of yarn and maintain themin proper alignment.

The side of the handle opposed to the slot is the front of the holderand the yarn should always be drawn towards the front of the holder,thus preventing accidental removal of the yarn through the slot 65.

. When it is desired to remove the spindles 5| and 52 and the spools ofyarn carried thereby from the holder, the yarn strands are movedlaterally from the passage E4 through the slot 65 to release them fromthe handle 59. The spindles 5I and 52 may then be lifted from therecesses 41, 48, 49 and 50.

The upwardly extending walls of the apparatus may, if desired, bemounted in slots (not shown) in the base which supports the same. Thetransverse or right-angularly extending walls may, as shown, be formedintegrally with the spaced walls which support the handle.

By the horizontal disposition of the spools in spaced relation withrespect to each other, a structure is provided in which the spools maybe freely and independently wound or unwound with the yarn from each ofthe spools being guided by the guide passage in the handle of theholder. i5 The structure may be arranged to support any suitable numberof spools but, as shown, the preferred embodiment is adapted to supportfour spools of yarn while the modification is arranged to support twospools.

While there are shown and described certain embodiments of theinvention, it is understood that it is capable of many modications.Changes, therefore, in the construction and ar-y rangement of thevarious parts and in the materials specified may be made Withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A spool holder comprising a base, a pair of spaced upwardly extendingparallel walls carried by the base, a pair of transversely arrangedspaced parallel walls right angularly disposed with respect to andjoined to the outer side of each of the first-mentioned pair of walls,each pair of parallel walls being adapted to rotatably receivetherebetween at least one spindle for supporting a spool of yarn or thelike and a carrying handle mounted upon and extending betweenrst-mentioned pair of walls, said handle being equipped with guide meansfor receiving the yarn from the spools.

2. A spool holder comprising a base, a pair of spaced upwardly extendingparallel Walls carried by said base, a pair of transversely arrangedspaced parallel walls right angularly disposed with respect to andintegrally joined to the outer side of each of said first-mentionedwalls, each of said rst-mentioned walls being provided with a pair ofrecesses and each of the other walls being provided with a singlerecess, each of the recesses being disposed opposite the correspondingrecess in the opposed parallel wall, a -pair oi spindles rotata'b-lysupported between said firstmentioned pair of walls with the ends of thespindles received within the opposed recesses in the walls, a spindlerotatably supported by each pair of transversely arranged walls with theends of the spindle received within the opposed recesses therein, a bosson the central upper portion lof each of said first-mentioned pair ofwalls, a passage extending through each boss, said passage `boeingequipped with a longitudinal slot communicating therewith, and acarrying handle mounted on said bosses and extending therebetween, saidhandle being equipped with a guide passage for receiving the yarn fromthe spools and with a longitudinal opening communicating with saidpassage to -permit the lateral removal of the yarn from the passage.

3. A spool holder comprising a base, a pair of spaced upwardly-extendingparallel walls carried by said base, a pair of transversely-arrangedspaced parallel walls right-angularly disposed with respect to andintegrally-joined to the outer side of each of said rst-mentionedwaflls, each pair of parallel walls being adapted to rotatably receivetherebetween at least one spindle for supporting a spool of yarn or thelike, a boss on the central upper portion of each of saidfirst-mentioned pair of walls, each boss being provided with a passageextending therethrough and with a longitudinal slot communicating withthe passage, and a carrying handle mounted on said bosses and extendingtherebetween, said handle being equipped with a guide passage forreceiving the yarn from the spools and with a longitudinal openingcommunicating with said guide passage to permit the lateral removal ofyarn from the passage.

4. A spool holder comprising a base, a pair of spaced upwardly-extendingparallel walls carried by said base, each of said walls being providedwith a pair of recesses spaced longitudinally along the wall and spacedfrom the lower portion thereof for receiving the ends of spindles, eachof the recesses being disposed opposite to the corresponding recess inthe opposed parallel wall, a pair of spindles rotatably supported in therecesses in said walls, each spindle extending transversely betweenopposed walls above said base and being received at its ends incorresponding opposed recesses and being adapted to support a, spool ofyarn or the like, and a carrying handle mounted at the upper centrallongitudinal portion of each of said walls between the pair of recessestherein and extending transversely between said walls, the transverseportion of said handle being spaced above the lb'ody of each of saidwalls and providing a hand grip surface by which the spool holder may bemanually lifted, said handle being equipped with a guide passage in anintermediate portion thereof between said walls for receiving the yarnfrom the spools.

PAUL MERCER.

